Energy is essential to economic and social development
and improved quality of life. However,
sustainable patterns of production, distribution and use of energy are crucial. Fossil fuels (coal,
oil
and natural gas) will continue to dominate the energy supply situation for many years to come in
most developed and developing countries. What is required then is to reduce the environmental
impact of their continued development, and to reduce local health hazards and environmental
pollution through enhanced international cooperation notably in the provision of concessional
finance for capacity development and transfer of the relevant technology, and through appropriate
national action.
In developing countries sharp increases in energy services
are required to improve the standard of
living of their growing populations. The increase in the level of energy services would have a
beneficial impact on poverty eradication by increasing employment opportunities and improving
transportation, health and education. Many developing countries, in particular the least developed,
face the urgent need to provide adequate modern energy services, especially to billions of people in
rural areas. This requires significant financial, human and technical resources and a broad-based
mix of energy sources.
The objectives envisaged in this section should reflect
the need for equity, adequate energy
supplies and increasing energy consumption in developing countries and should take into account
the situation of countries that are highly dependent on income generated from the production,
processing and export, and/or consumption of fossil fuels and that have serious difficulties in
switching to alternative sources of energy, and the situation of countries highly vulnerable to
adverse effects of climate change.
Advances towards sustainable energy use are taking place
and all parties can benefit from
progress made in other countries. It is also necessary to ensure international cooperation for
promoting energy conservation and improvement of energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy
and research, and the development and dissemination of innovative energy-related technology.
Therefore there is a need for:
(a)
A movement towards sustainable patterns of production, distribution and use of energy.
To advance this work at the intergovernmental level, the Commission on Sustainable
Development will discuss energy issues at its ninth session. Noting the vital role of energy
in the continuation of sustained economic growth, especially for developing countries, be
they importers or suppliers of energy, and recognizing the complexities and
interdependencies inherent in addressing energy issues within the context of sustainable
development, preparations for this session should be initiated at the seventh session and
should utilize an open-ended intergovernmental group of experts on energy and sustainable
development to be held in conjunction with inter-sessional meetings of the eighth and ninth
sessions of the Commission. In line with the objectives of Agenda 21, the ninth session of
the Commission should contribute to a sustainable energy future for all;
(b)
Evolving concrete measures to strengthen international cooperation in order to assist
developing countries in their domestic efforts to provide adequate modern energy services,
especially electricity, to all sections of their population, particularly in rural areas, in an
environmentally sound manner;
(c)
Countries, bearing in mind the specific needs and priorities of developing countries, to
promote policies and plans that take into account the economic, social and environmental
aspects of the production, distribution and use of energy, including the use of lower
pollutant sources of energy such as natural gas;
(d)
Evolving commitments for the transfer of relevant technology, including time- bound
commitments, as appropriate, to developing countries and economies in transition so as to
enable them to increase the use of renewable energy sources and cleaner fossil fuels and
to improve efficiency in energy production, distribution and use. Countries need to
systematically increase the use of renewable energy sources according to their specific
social, economic, natural, geographical and climatic conditions and cleaner fuel
technologies, including fossil fuel technologies, and to improve efficiency in energy
production, distribution and use and in other industrial production processes that are
intensive users of energy;
(e)
Promoting efforts in research on and development and use of renewable energy
technologies at the international and national levels;
(f)
In the context of fossil fuels, encouraging further research, development, and the
application and transfer of technology of a cleaner and more efficient nature, through
effective international support;
(g)
Encouraging Governments and the private sector to consider appropriate ways to
gradually promote environmental cost internalization so as to achieve more sustainable use
of energy, taking fully into account the economic, social and environmental conditions of all
countries, in particular developing countries. In this regard, the international community
should cooperate to minimize the possible adverse impacts on the development process of
developing countries resulting from the implementation of those policies and measures.
There is also a need to encourage the reduction and the gradual elimination of subsidies for
energy production and consumption that inhibit sustainable development. Such policies
should take fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries,
particularly least developed countries, as reflected in the special and differential treatment
accorded them in the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations Agreement on
Subsidies and Countervailing Measures;18
(h) Encouraging better coordination on the issue of energy within the United
Nations system, under the guidance of the General Assembly and taking into
account the coordinating role of ECOSOC.
